NAPIER CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – BETTINA – GETS A SECOND LIFE
Recently Sam Avison acquired a berth in Napier, but there was a slight problem, the berth included a 1950’s kauri built launch. The launch named BETTINA wasn’t / isn’t in good shape, in fact at the time of purchase she was taking on water (sinking). Sam couldn’t bring himself to call in the back-hoe boys so decided to take on the challenge.
First job was to sort out the leak, that’s done and he’s currently getting his head around where to start next.
The primary reason for Sam contacting WW to see how f he can learn more about the vessels past. All he knows is 26’ long, built in Napier and probably had a name change in the 1990’s.
Then last week Dean Wright sent in todays photo of MISS BRETT in Deep Water Cove, Bay of Islands.
MISS BRETT was launched in 1927 & built by Dick Lang at Russell for the Bay of Islands famous Fullers Cream Trip. She measures 40’ x 10’9” x 2’11” draft.
Looking at todays photo and the WW 2018 photos, does not appear as if she has been getting the TLC on a regular basis.
Can we learn what’s been happening in her life these past 8 years.
LAST REMINDER RE THE AUCKLAND BOAT SHOW – STARTING TOMORROW
Today we have another great photo from the ‘Thames Historic Pictures’ fb via Lew Redwood.
On the left is the steam launch PUKE, standing off the sunken paddle steamer KOPU. The location is the top end of the dead end channel, Puke Wharf, Paeroa (I assume).
Question of the day for the steam heads – is this the same steam launch that I photographed at the 2025 Whangarei Maritime Festival or a replica? Photos below.
Todays woody popped up on tme late last year (thanks Ian McDonald), at the time the starting bid was $300, sadly it didn’t sell.
What we learnt was she was 18’ in length, built from kauri carvel planking, and there was a Lees Marine Ford engine in her. Her fittings must have been worth the asking price, but the location – Maungaturoto, Northland, would have put people off + no trailer in the sale.
Anyone know more about the launch and what became of her.
Woody Angus Rogers sent the photos above of the 40’ Kinlock Marina based classic wooden launch – VICTORY. Designed and built by Jack Taylor in Taupo in 1939. She spent time as a charter boat.
Todays woody gets to be on WW because its just so cute – as Harold told me once re classic wooden boats “dear boy do not be under any illusion, it is a beauty contest” .
What we learn from her recent tme appearance is – designed by John Spencer, launched in 1960, 16’ 5” in length powered by a40hp Mercury outboard. I wonder who built her, most likely a home / DIY project.
Home is Kaitaia, Northland so hopefully someone in the BOI buys her.
BUDGET BOAT BLING
There is a secret to buying well on trade me , I have bought ace clinker dinghies for $200 and an embarrassing amount of bronze hardware for next to nothing.
The waitematawoodys Slipway Milford car boot sales are also legendary.
Aside from the clinkers I think this weeks buy is the best to date. A pair of bronze/chrome 1/2 vents for $25. A quick clean up with a scotch pad and WD40 and almost like new. Have I a need for them ? – of course not, but better in my glory box than sold for scrap.
The reason for the bottle of wine in the photo below (size comparison) is when I told Jason Prew what I’d bought and the price, his reply was “I bet they are 1” high and from a model boat kit” if I’m honest I was concerned when the seller wouldn’t answer my question re what size they were (post buying) 🙂
One of my Gulf Harbour spies sent in todays photo of the launch – ECHO, he spotted her late last year hauled out at the Gulf Harbour Marina in Auckland.
Now hopefully I’m right in saying its a woody, could be ply/f-glass or even worse pure white plastic…….
Her size lets her get away with the flying bridge and sun shade. Smart looking craft.
Can we learn more about ECHO.
INPUT ex ANGUS ROGERS – photos below taken during her pervious owners period.
28-02-2026 INPUT ex ALAN SEXTON – ARTICLE BELOW EX SEA SPRAY MAGAZINE MAY 19991
UPCOMING AUCKLAND ON-THE-WATER BOAT SHOW – 5>8 MARCH If your looking for classic wooden boats you will looking for a long time but if you need a new – tender, outboard, safety gear, bbq, electronics, VHF etc – this is the boat show for you. Personally I always seem to find something I didn’t know I needed for the boat 🙂 Its a very professional run show and a great opportunity to see the latest and greatest marine related goods – just do not buy a white plastic boat 🙂
Todays very cool photo comes to us from Lew Redwood via the ’Thames Historic Pictures’ fb page.
The location Is the Junction Wharf, Paeroa and its dated 1907.
I hope I’m correct when a say the small motorboat in the foreground is what was back then referred to as a ’Settlers Launch’. Todays equivalent would be a Toyota HiLux Ute.
Harold Kidd once told me an approx. figure for the number of these Settler Launches built in the 1900>1930 period, the exact number has slipped thru the cracks in my grey matter but it was I think (starting to sound like Ken Ricketts…..) +/- 5,000.
EX WOODEN WORKBOAT – BELFAST – WHERE IS SHE NOW Back in Feb 2023 the 32’ BELFAST made an appearance on WW via a tme listing (via Ian McDonald), at the time she was looking rather sad and needed some serious TLC. Link below to that story. WW Feb 2023 https://waitematawoodys.com/2023/02/04/belfast/ At the time it was commented that she was built by Jack Guard in 1940 and has spent time in survey,
Fast forward to last week and Ian McD spotted BELFAST again, this time on a FB group page titled ‘Ex NZ Post Office Construction Staff’, from the photo she looks to be loading/unloading goods, or maybe it is just a person transfer. Can we get an update on what happen with the tme listing – did she sell, where is she now and the current status / condition of the vessel.
25-02-2026 INPUT ex HYLTON EDMONDS – Photos below of Belfast at Matauwhi Bay as of 24-02-2026
UPCOMING AUCKLAND ON-THE-WATER BOAT SHOW – 5>8 MARCH If your looking for classic wooden boats you will looking for a long time but if you need a new – tender, outboard, safety gear, bbq, electronics, VHF etc – this is the boat show for you. Personally I always seem to find something I didn’t know I needed for the boat 🙂 Its a very professional run show and a great opportunity to see the latest and greatest marine related goods – just do not buy a white plastic boat 🙂
During the second half of 2025 Sven Wiig was undertaking in Wellington a major refit on the ex work boat ARIANA , previously named GLENROWAN and TE KAWAU. WW covered the project in three parts – links below. Last week Sven updated WW on the final push to getting her back in the water.. As we learnt previously Sven has reverted back to the original name – TE KAWAU, we like that 🙂
As previously I will hand over to Sven to tell the story. Enjoy – its a great read.
“Time for an update on the Te Kawau project. Winter had me up in Auckland with work. Returning to Wellington in the early spring I got back into the project with fresh energy. First up was the wheelhouse sole. I built a new structure and cut out hardwood ply to line it. Pretty basic but a vast improvement on what had been there. The small cabin I had created out of the old fish hold got the same treatment.
Time to move outside. First up I fitted a hardwood seat to the stern. This was a request from Jessica. She has visions of lunches out on the rear deck.
With these projects out of the way and summer rapidly approaching it was time to get started on the hull.
I started scraping the old antifoul off. Two or three days passed and I had less than a third of the starboard side stripped. Was definitely going to need to find a more efficient process. I experimented with a heat gun and various sanders no luck the old paint was rock solid. Eventually I settled on burning the paint off with a LPG torch. Much more efficient but slightly terrifying. In the space of a couple of weeks I had the whole hull back to bare timber. I raked all the seams out discovering that the whole garboard had previously been filled with mortar. Apparently, this was quite common on old work boats. It had however really damaged the edges of the seam. I decided that it needed some repair and most of it was tidied up and I glued Kauri splines onto the plank edge. There were several other areas that needed a similar treatment. I also removed all the old skin fittings and through-hulls. All seams were given a coat of red lead paint.
I then got a lesson in caulking from one of the old boat builders who is often around the yard. With this new knowledge I set about re-caulking the boat. This is a task that I had been dreading as it had seemed like a dark art, with people warning me it was hard. As it turns out I quickly got a feel for it and fortunately my brother arrived for his summer visit just in time to finish the caulking and get the seams puttied. The putty proved to be much harder work than the caulking. As my boat builder friend advised me “If your hands aren’t aching at the end of the day you are doing it wrong.” A couple of weeks later I had the first coats of primer on and Te Kawau was looking better than she had in a long time.
The race was now on to get her in the water before my next work project started. The systems all needed sorting out. I spent a couple of weeks plumbing the new tanks sorting out wiring, installing a new hydraulic steering system, etc, etc. Antifouling and propspeed were applied and finally she was ready for launch. Couldn’t quite believe that I had got to this point. There were plenty of times along the journey that I thought she was never going back it the water. One fine Sunday in early February with little drama she was put back in the water. I was expecting that she would have water gushing in but as it turns out the water ingress was not too dramatic and slowly she is taking up.
There is still plenty to do. The interior has to go back in and both sleeping cabins will need fitting out but in the mean time we can get out and enjoy her.
PAIHIA – BAY of ISLAND – PLEASANTLY SURPRISED I haven’t been to Paihia in a very long time, like 35+ years, tend to dodge it when driving north + I do not have good memories having nearly bleed out in an encounter between a plate glass door and an artery. We traveled north to perform babysitting duties while daughter was doing bridesmaid duties at a wedding. While still a tab OTT touristy / Rotovegas, I was impressed. Won’t bore you with too much but Sunday breakfast at Zane Grey’s, over the water was very good on all fronts – location, setting, service, food and price. Only spotted one woody at anchor.
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